From 2024, companies that wish to benefit from the B Corp™ label will have to meet ten requirements grouped together within a common base. Businesses that are already part of the B Corp™ movement will have one year to adapt to these new requirements.
Among these requirements, we find the completion of a carbon assessment to manage and reduce the CO2 emissions of companies.
Deciphering these new requirements to explain to you how Sami can help you.
Article co-written with Marine Hortemel of Moment of Impact, Sami partner, who guides businesses on the path to B Corp™ Certification.
An issue of homogenization of B Corp™ companies
This common set of requirements is created in order to homogenize the profile of B Corp™ certified companies.
Today, certification is subject to obtaining a minimum of 80 points on the B Corp™ questionnaire, the B Impact Assessment. All actions are optional and obtaining the label requires carrying out enough actions to obtain a minimum number of points. Thus, some companies obtain certification without having put in place a solid environmental or even social policy on all aspects... This is about to change!
The B Corp™ certification questionnaire is composed of several categories: Governance, Collaborators, Employees, Environment, Community, Customers, Form linked to transparency requirements.
As of 2024, a common set of 10 requirements will be put in place in order to obtain certification.
10 new requirements
The new requirements within this common base include the themes essential elements of the global sustainable development approach that we find through the 17 sustainable development goals.
The B Corp™ framework is the only one that is directly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Each requirement will be associated with a level of performance to be achieved by companies. This level of performance will depend on the context of the company (in particular its size and geographical location). Here are the 10 topics to which will be associated the new requirements that B Corp™ considers essential to any CSR policy:
💯 The committed and engaging corporate mission
At the heart of B Corp™'s proposal, the inclusion of a written corporate mission that integrates social and environmental objectives and that involves all the company's stakeholders will be part of this common base.
🤝 Business ethics
Candidates for the label must have ethical and corruption-free business management. To do this, they will have to engage stakeholders by having preventive practices throughout the value chain.
💫 The global vision of the impact of its activities
The impact of business activities must be taken into account in a global, inclusive manner by considering all stakeholders in decision-making.
💰 The living wage
The company must ensure that employees have access to a decent standard of living, for themselves and for their families (we are talking about a concept that goes much further than the SMIC).
🎓 The development of collaborators
A company that wants to obtain B Corp™ certification must encourage its employees to be responsible. Employees should be able to associate and collaborate, share opinions (individual and collective), and hold management to account.
⚖️ The guarantee of the protection of Human Rights
B Corp companies must be exemplary on their value chain, both in terms of their employees and their suppliers. Possible violations of human rights must be prevented, mitigated, and solutions must be put in place.
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace
Businesses have inclusive and diverse work environments, and contribute significantly to a fair and equitable society.
🌎 The commitment to climate action
B Corp™ -labelled companies take measures in line with current scientific knowledge to fight climate change and minimize their impact in the context of their activities and their value chain.
♻️ The establishment of an environmental management policy
B Corp™ -labelled companies have an environmental management system (SGE) that covers waste generation, energy and water consumption, CO2 emissions and biodiversity. This SGE shows that the company is committed to minimizing the negative impact of its activities and generating positive impact.
🗣️ Management in a framework of collective action
B Corp™ -labelled companies act in their sector, in their industry, or in their legislative/regulatory environment to move towards a fair, inclusive and regenerative economy. These actions can take the form of political advocacy, sharing of best practices and/or bold collaborations and partnerships.
🚨 A risk management policy
B Corp™ companies are required to meet additional requirements related to the specific material impacts of their business model and/or practices, in addition to other requirements that are universally applicable, and common to all businesses. This includes, for example, specific requirements for multinationals or additional requirements to meet B Lab's standards on controversial topics (such as mineral extraction or even the casino sector). It will also be required to meet the potential expectations of the Form related to transparency requirements and B Lab's complaint handling process.
💡 B Corp™ is not only a label, it is also a global community of 5,930 companies in 158 different sectors in 86 countries! By being B Corp™ certified, a French company is thus joining the B Corp™ France community.
How can Sami help you
Sami, through its platform and its support, can support you throughout the “Air and Climate” part of the environment category of the B Impact Assessment.
Calculating the complete carbon balance
Sami allows you to make a carbon balance (scopes 1, 2 and 3) in order to have a complete vision of the emissions related to your business. After calculating your carbon footprint, Sami provides you with a complete report (PDF and on the application) detailing the economic carbon intensity as well as the intensity per employee (two intensities requested by B Corp™).
The establishment of a reduction trajectory
Sami allows you to take action to reduce your emissions and in particular define ambitious emission reduction goals in line with the Sciences-Based Targets (which will allow you to comply with the Paris Agreements). This is a point particularly valued by B Corp™.
A comprehensive action plan to support you
In addition, Sami supports you in setting up a personalized action plan and helps you reach your reduction goals through individualized support.
To personalize your action plan according to your needs, Sami gives you access to a database of more than 250 low-carbon actions on all broadcast stations and a network of more than 50 partners low-carbon to implement the actions (with rates negotiated in advance by Sami). Together with you, we estimate the most relevant actions to implement by estimating the impact of each action, its difficulty of implementation and its cost.
Thanks to this support you will not only be aligned with B Corp™ requirements but equipped to go even further.
An annual monitoring of your progress
Also, if a company seeks to be an example on the climate side and manage its emissions as best as possible, it is possible to commit to following an emissions reduction trajectory in accordance with Science Based Targets (SBT). In this case, B Corp™ asks to know the evolution of the company on an annual basis and therefore, that the company calculates a new carbon balance according to this periodicity.
The Sami solution allows you to carry out your carbon footprint in a simplified manner without compromising on rigor, on an annual basis with our non-binding subscription system.
The contribution to global carbon neutrality
For emissions that cannot be reduced, Sami accompanies you in the contribution to carbon neutrality worldwide thanks to its network of partners through identified and serious projects, but also with the possibility of buying carbon credits.
Thus, Sami supports you on this other B Corp™ requirement.
Monitoring of energy consumption
Indirectly, carrying out a carbon footprint allows you to monitor your energy consumption and especially to transition to renewable energies. Moreover, discover our article onGreen electricity !
Sami allows you to highlight your emissions related to your energy consumption through its physical data collector, or in any case to approximate your energy consumption.
At the time of the action plan, Sami will also be able to put you in touch with an actor to manage your energy consumption, but also to set up low-carbon energy sources.
Get started with grants!
If you want to get involved in the B Corp™ movement with an ambitious climate strategy, contact us! Of financial aid exist to help businesses implement their climate strategy.
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